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(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. GASSETT. I I ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY GROSSINGS.

Patented Jan. 29,1884; I

[nae/afar (No Model.) I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. GASSETT. V ELEGTRIG SIGNALING APPARATUS FORRAILWAY GROSSINGS-Patented Jan; 29, 1884.

/ z. WITNESSES: INVENTOR ()scaraasseh 1 ATTORNEYS UNIT D STATES PATENTGimme. A

osoAR GASSETT, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR r'o UNION SWITCH ANDSIGNAL GOMPANY, or PITTSBURG, ENNSYLVANIA.-

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAlLWAY-CROSSINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,744, dated January29, 180

v Application filcd hl'arch 26, 1883. (X model.)

To all who/72 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR GASSETT, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Boston, in the countylof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric SignalingApparatus for Railway-Crossings, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a system of signal ing apparatus for theprotection of trains from collision at crossings or intersections ofdifferent lines of railway upon the same level, commonly termedgrade-crossings.

The object of the invention is to enable a locomotive, car, or trainapproaching such crossing from either direction and upon either end ofsaid intersecting lines of railway to automatically actuate electricalcircuit breaking or'controlling apparatus, whereby signals will be givenat certain signaling-points situated at a proper distance from thecrossing in both directions upon the intersecting line, whereby thecrossing-point may be guarded against the approach of anotherlocomotive, car, or train upon the intersecting line of railway, whichmight, if allowed to proceed, lead to a collision between the two at thepoint of crossing.

To this end my invention comprises certain signaling-points establishedat a suitable dis tance from the crossing in each direction upon bothof" the intersecting railways, together with apparatus at eachsignaling-point actuated or controlled by electro-magnetism inaccordance with the position or movement of trains upon the otherrailway, by which means the'approach to and passage over the crossing ofa locomotive, car, or train having the right of way'upon either linewill automatically give signals to any train not having the right of waywhich may be approaching in either direction upon the intersecting line.The invention also comprises means for preventing the actuation of thesignaling appara- 4 5 tus by the passage of a loco1notive,car, ortrainin eitherdirection while receding from the crossing.

The particular subject-matter claimed as new will be hereinafterspecifically described, and pointed out in the claims. p In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is condition when no train is passingupon either 0 railway. Fig. 2 is'a similar diagram, in which theposition of the several parts of the apparatus caused by the approach ofa locomo tive to the crossing upon one of the railwaylines isillustrated.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent one and B B the other of twointersecting railway-lines, and G the point of crossing or intersection.Signaling-points are established at a suitable distance in eachdirection from the crossing-say one thousand five hundred or twothousand feetupon both railways, it being understood that no locomotive,car, or train is permitted to pass one of these signaling-points goingin the direction of or toward the crossing until its engineer shall havereceived a signal denoting safety. I have herein illustrated anddescribed one system of signals which may advantageously be employed.namely, stationary, visual, or semaphoric Sig-- nals of suitable andwell-known character. A conventional representation of such signals isshown at S, S S and S, each consisting of a banner or target, one partof which is white, signifying safety, and the other part is shaded,signifying danger. The operation of this class of signals issufficiently illustrated by the simple devices shown in the drawings,consisting of indexes or pointers t, i, i and i, which are attached tothe armatures of electro-magnets s, s (s and s", and by the attractiveforce of said electro-magnets, when magnetized, are held in a positiontopoint to the white portions of the respective targets, signifyingsafetyfilwhile upon the demag 5 netization of the electro magnets theyare i drawnin'to a position pointing to the shaded part of the targets,signifying danger,. by Y the action of retracting-springsj, 3' j and j.

The particular form or construction of signaling appa'ratus forms noessential part of my invention. An audible or bell signal may besubstituted for the visual signal; and it is not even necessary that thesignaling apparatus should be permanently located alongside the track,as it may be carried upon the locomotive or train and brought intoelectric connection with the signaling electric circuits on the arrivalof such locomotive at the signaling point.

The operation of my improved signaling system, as hereinafter shown,depends upon the action of circuit-breakers or circuit-closerscontrolled by the passage of locomotives, cars, or trains along thetracks. I prefer to employ for this purpose circuit-closers orcircuit-controllers formed of insulated sections of track, of greater orless length, the construction and organization of which insulatedtracksections are fully set forth in Letters Patent No. 129, 425, of F.L. Pope, dated July 16, 1872, and reissued October 21, 187 3, as No.5,622, and also in Letters Patent of XV. Robinson, No. 130,661, ofAugust 20, 1872, reissued July 7, 1874, as No. 5,958. These insulatedsections of track each consist of two parallel lines of rails of equallength, insulated from each other by the non-conducting ties upon whichthey rest, each constituting a continuous electric conductor from oneend of the section to the other, and such section is also separated fromthe adjacent seetion in each direction by means of insulated joints orsplices, whereby each line of rails is rendered mechanically continuous,and at the same time electrically discontinuous.

In the drawings a short insulated section is introduced into each of thefour tracks radiating from the crossing, and in the immediate vicinitythereof, as shown at a a", a a", I) b", and b" b. These four insulatedsections need not extend farther from the crossing-point than isnecessary to insure a train which has passed beyond them upon one linebeing clear of a passing train upon the intersecting line. One rail ofeach pair forming one of the insulated sections just described iselectrically united with the others by means of conductors w 1020, andthe remaining rails of each section are in like manner united by anotherset of conductors, :v a; A battery or other suitable electric generator,f has its opposite poles connected by wires or other conductors, 1 and2, to the opposite rails of some one of the insulated sectionsas, forinstance, I)" I). In like manner the terminals of an electro-magnet, m",are connected by conductors 3 and l with the opposite lines of rails ofone of the sections, as b 1). Thus it will be understood that one poleof the battery and one terminal of the electromagnet are in connectionwith one of each pair of insulated rails of the four sections, and theother pole of the battery and the other terminal of the electro-magnetare in like manner in connection with the remaining rail of the pairconstituting each of the four sections; hence in the normal condition ofaffairs a constant current from the battery f will traverse the coils ofthe electro-magnet on, maintaining it constantly in a magneticcondition; but if a conductingconnection of comparatively smallresistance is established between the opposite insulated rails of eitherone of the four sections described, as by the presence thereupon of alocomotive, ear, or train, the current of the battery will be divertedor shunted from the coils of the electrounagnet and the latter willbecome demagnetized.

At a considerable distance away from the crossing, upon each trackradiating therefrom, another short insulated section of track isinserted, as shown at a a, a a, Z) Z), and b These last-named sectionsare placed in the vicinity of, but preferably somewhat beyond, therespective signaling points, so that a locomotive, car, or trainapproaching the crossing will necessarily pass over the insulatedsection just before reaching the signaling-point. Each of theseinsulated sections is connected with a battery, as shown atc cff", andalso with an electro-magnet, as shown at m, m m", and m"; Eachelectromagnet is normally traversed by a constant current from itscorresponding battery, and each is demagnetized in the mannerhereinbeibre described by the passage of a locomotive, ear, or trainover its corresponding insulated section of track. The portion of eachof the railwaytracks which intervenes between the signaling-point andthe crossing-point consists of still anotherorthirdinsulatedsection oftrack, as shown at a a, a a, I) b, and I) 0. These are in like mannerprovided with batteries 0, 01f, and f, and also with electro-inagnetsm", m, m, and m these eleetro-magnets and batteries being connected withthe track-sections, as in the previous]y-described instances, so thatthe electro-magnct will be normally rendered magnetic by a constantcurrent from its corresponding battery, which current will be divertedtherefrom by the passage of a locomotive, car, or train, or any portionthereof, over any part of the insulated section of track.

The electro-magnets which actuate or control the indications of thesignaling apparatus at the several signaling-points are actuated byindependent electric circuits, which circuits are not directly connectedwith the track, but are operated by means of keys, which keys are inturn controlled by the trackcircuits. The signal-operating magnetsappertaining to each of the two intersecting railways are actuated byseparate electric circuits. For example, the signal apparatuses S and Sguarding the line A A, are included in one electric circuit with anactuating-battery, E,and in like manner the signaling apparatuses S andS, guarding the line B B, are included in another circuit with abattery, E. These circuits may be traced as follows: from the positivepole of the battery E, by wire 5, to signal-operating magnet s, thenceby wire 6 to contact-spring 1; of key K, thence by contact-stop h andwire7 to signaloperating magnet .9, thence by wire 8 to contact-springk" of k ey K, thence to contact-stop h thence by wire 9 toelectromagnetr, thence by wire 10 to key K, and thence by wire 11 tothe-negative pole of the battery. In like manner the circuit of batteryE may be traced from its positive pole, by wire 12, to contact-spring 7cof key K*, contact-stop h, wire 13, signal-operating magnet 8 wire 14,contact-spring of key K contact-stop h, wire 15, signal-operating magnet8, wire 16, key B, and wire 17, to the opposite pole of the battery. 1Each one of the keys K, K K, and K is provided with a locking device,the object of whichattachrnent will be hereinafter explained. It willsuffice to describe the locking mechanism attached to the key K, as eachof the others is fitted in precisely the same manner. The key K isretained in its normal position by the attraction of the electro magneton for its armature, which armature is mounted upon one end. of thekey-lever, and when the key is in this position the contact-spring 7c isheld against the stop h, thereby keeping the signaling-circuit closed.When the electro-magnet m becomes demagnetized, and releases itsarmature, a retracting-spring, q, draws the key-lever away from itsposition of rest, and interrupts the signaling-circuit by separating thespring is and stop It. The armature-lever v of an independentelectro-magnet in is placed at right angles to the-key-lever K, butinsuch a position with reference thereto that when its armature isreleased it is drawn back by the retracting-spring 0, thereby bringing.its projection or stop a into the path of a similar projection, 1), uponthe key-lever K. It will be understood from the drawings that the stopa, when thus thrown into the path of the stop 1), will serve to retainthe key-lever in position, whether its position is such as to open or toclose the signaling-circuit. m releases its armature first and theelectromagnet 121. last, then the stop a will fall in before the stop 1)and prevent the key from being closed until it is again withdrawn; butif the armature of the electro-magnet m is released first, then the stopa will fall in behind the stop and lock the key in position to hold thesignaling-circuit open.

The operation of the signaling devices upon an intersecting track isprecisely the same in all cases, irrespective of the particular railwayor the particular direction upon or in which a locomotive or train ismoved. For example,

. in Fig. 2 I have shown a locomotive upon the railway A A approachingthe crossing, it being represented as having just passed the signalingpoint. When passing the circuit changer or insulated section of track aa, the

electro-magnet m has been demagnetized, re-' If the electro-magnet naling-points. Furthermore, the entrance of the locomotive upon the sectiona a. (where it is represented in the drawings) has released the armatureo of the electro-magnet m, which has, in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, locked the key K ina position to hold both signaling-circuitsopen, as represented in Fig. 2, notwithstanding that the train haspassed off from the insulated section aa. 4 The 1000- tive is clear ofthe insulated section a a. Thus:

all the signals will continue to be retained in a position indicatingdanger until the locomotive has passed off from the section a a andentered upon the section a a, whereupon the electro magnet m will becomemagnetized and will attract its armature, closing the key K. and therebyrestoring all the" signal'apparatuses at the respective signal: pointsto their normal condition, to denote safety, and permit the approach ofa train upon the intersecting line B B, if required. During the time inwhich the locomotive or train is upon the insulated section if a, receding from the crossing, thearmature of the electromagnet m will bereleased, thus looking the key-lever K in its closed position in themanner hereinbefore explain ed,and thereby preventing the breaking ofthe signalingcircnit upon the demagnetization of the electro-magnet m,consequent upon the locomotive or train passing over the short insulatedsection A A Thus it will be understood that a locomotive, car, or trainapproaching the crossing O in either direction upon either one of theintersecting tracks will automatically give signals upon the otherintersecting track, which will serve to protect the crossing from theapproach'ot' trains in either direction thereon, and also, by theoperation of the locking device, signals are prevented from being givenwhen the locomotive, car, or train is receding from the crossing, andthereby the unnecessary blocking of the intersecting track is avoided.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination,substantially ashereinbefore set forth, of four insulated sections of railway-trackextending radially in difi'erent directions from a crossing-point andforming parts of two intersecting or crossing lines of railway, andelectrical connections uniting the railway, whereby the presence of alocomo- IIS tive, car, or train upon an insulated section of either linewill cause signals to be given in both directions upon the intersectingliner 2.; The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, offour independently-insulated sections of railway-track extendingradially in different directions from a crossing l respectively placedat asuitable distance from or intersection, a battery having one of itspoles connected with one insulated line of rails of each of saidsections, and its remaining pole with the other insulated line of railsof each section, an electro-magnet having its opposite terminalsconnected with the respective lines of rails of each section in the samemanner as the poles of the battery, and signaling apparatus guardingeach one of said radial sections of track at a suitable distance fromthe common point of crossing or intersection and controlled by suchelectro-niagnet,whereby the establishment of a direct electricconnection between the opposite insulated lines of rails of one or moreof said insulated sections will cause said electro-magnet to actuatesaid signaling apparatus.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of fourinsulated sections of railway-track extending radially in differentdirections from a crossing or intersection, an electro-magnetcircuit-controller, which is actuated by the establishment of anelectric connection between the opposite ends of rails of either of saidinsulated sections, signaling apparatus guarding each one of said radialsections of track, an electro-niagnet for controlling each of saidsignaling apparatuses, and one or more electric circuits traversing saidelectro-magnets and under control of said circuit-controller, wherebythe presence of a loeomotive, car, or train upon either of said i11-sulatcd sections will actuate said circuit-controller, and therebyoperate said signaling ap paratuses. Y

4. The coi'nbination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of twointersecting or crossing railway-tracks, signaling-points upon eachtrack guarding the approach to the crossing from each direction, anelectro-magnet-controlling signaling apparatus at each of saidsignaling-points, two independent electric circuits, one of whichcircuits includes the elecire-magnets controlling the signalingapparatuses of one of the intersecting tracks, and the other theelectro-niagnei's controlling the signaling apparatuses of the otherintersecting track, and a circuit-controller actuated by comotives,cars, or trains passing over either or both said tracks at or near theircommon pointof intersection, whereby both sets of signaling apparatusmay be simultaneously actuated through their respective circuits by alocomotive, car, or train approaching the crossing upon either track andfrom any direction.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbei'ore set forth, of twointersecting or crossing railway-tracks, signaling-points upon one ofsaid intersecting tracks, guarding the approach to the crossing fromeach direction, an electro-magnet-controlling signaling apparatus ateach of said signaling-points, an electric circuit including both ofsaid electro-magnets, and two circuit-controllers, which are themselvescontrolled by locomotives, cars, or trains passing overthe otherintersecting track,

the crossing in opposite directions, each of which independentlycontrols said electric circuit, whereby a locomotive, car, or trainapproaching the crossing in either direction upon one intersecting trackwill actuate or cause to be actuated signaling apparatus at thesignaling-points upon the other intersectingtrack, guarding the approachto the crossing in both directions.

(3. The combination, substantially as hereinbci'ore set forth, of twointersecting or crossing railway-tracks, signaling-points upon one ofsaid intersecting tracks, guarding the approach to the crossing fromeach direction, an electro-niagnet-controlling signaling apparatus ateach of said signaling-points, an electric circuit including saidelectro-niagnets, two circuit-controllers actuated by locomotives, cars,or trains passing over the other intersecting track, respectively placedat a suitable distance from the crossing in opposite directions, each ofwhich circuit-changers independently controls said electric circuit, andlocking devices whereby the action of either of said circuit-changers iscontinued after the locomotive, car, or train has passed by it in thedirection of the crossing.

7, The combination, substantially as herei 11- before set forth, of twointersecting or crossing railway-tracks, signaling-points upon one ofsaid intersecting tracks, guarding the approach to the crossing fromeach direction, an electro-magnet-controlling signaling apparatus ateach of said signaling-points, an electric circuit including saidelectro-magnets, two circuit-controllers actuated by locomotives, ears,or trains passing over the other intersecting track, an d respective] yplaced at a suitable distance from the crossing in each direction, eachof which independently controls said electric circuit, locking deviceswherebythc action of either of said circuit-changers is continued afterthe train has passed by it in the direction of the crossing, and meansfor releasing said locking devices after the train has reached or passedthe crossing.

S. The combination, substantially as herci n before set forth, of twointersecting or crossing railway-tracks, signalingpoints upon one ofsaid intersecting tracks, guarding the approach to the crossing fromeach direction, an electro-magnet-controlling signaling apparatus ateach of said signaling-points, an electric circuit including saidelectro-magnets, two keys, each independently controlling said circuit,and two independent electro-inagnets controlling the position of each ofsaid keys according to the order in which they are respectivel y actedupon by circuit-controllers, accord ing to the direction of movement ofa train, whereby the electric current which actuatcs the signalingapparatus upon one intersecting track will be interrupted when a train011 the other intersecting track is approaching the crossing, but notwhen the train is receding from the crossing.

signaling apparatus, an electric circuit in which said electro-magnet isincluded, a key for controlling said circuit, a second electromagnet,whereby said key is normally kept closed, a spring for opening said keywhen the second electro-magnet ceases to act, a locking-lever, which,when thrown into the path of said key, acts to retain it either in itsopen or its closed position, a third electro-magnet which normally holdssaid locking-lever out of engagement with said key, and a spring whichacts to throw said locking-lever into the path of said key when releasedby its own actuating electro-magnet, whereby said key is locked in anopen or a closed'position, to display or conceal the signal, accordingto the order of time in which the second and third electromagnets arerespectively actuated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto suloscribed my name this 3d day ofMarch, A. D.

OSCAR GASSETT. XVitnesses:

ALEX. P. BRowNE, J. HENRY TAYLOR.

